Westcoast Life Calendar Top Picks: March 10-17

Destroyer, lead by Vancouver’s Dan Bejar, performs the Commodore Ballroom March 17.

Photograph by: Handout
, Files

March 10

Burning In

Gateway Theatre, 8 p.m.; to March 19

Natalie Meisner’s thought-provoking new play examines what happens to a journalist and a boy, both made famous by a wartime photograph and both still carrying scars.

March 10

Flamenco Vivo!

Vogue Theatre, 8 p.m.

Paco Pena goes on a musical journey into modern flamenco with his company of guitarists, percussionists, vocalists and three dancers in his newest work, Flamenco Vivo!

March 10

Penderecki String Quartet

Scotiabank Dance Centre, 8 p.m.

The Pendereckis (quartet-in-residence at Wilfrid Laurier University) are specialists in new works, and the evening includes music designed for multi-channel diffusion by VNM’s Giorgio Magnanensi.

March 11

Under the Skin

Vancouver Playhouse, 8 p.m.; also Saturday

Choreographers Wen Wei Wang from Vancouver and Gao Yanjizi from Beijing have created new two works with dancers from each other’s company in an evening that explores change and how it gets Under the Skin.

March 11

Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train

Pacific Theatre, 8 p.m., to April 2

Angela Konrad directs this blistering study of two prisoners, each in solitary confinement but both allowed one hour of conversation a day. One is a serial killer awaiting execution, the other proclaims the killing he committed was not a crime.

March 11

Margie Gillis: Thread

Wong Experimental Theatre, 8 p.m.; also Saturday

One of the country’s leading dance artists, Margie Gillis has created more than 100 solo dance works in her signature, passionate style. In Thread, she uses dance to make sense of the life experiences she has encountered on the path to maturity and letting go.

March 11

Jack Shadbolt: The Isman Collection

Equinox Gallery, to April 9, 2011

The Ismans were longtime supporters of Jack Shadbolt and these 50 works, dating from 1939 to 1990, is testament to an a warm and enduring relationship. In a letter to the Ismans, the Shadbolts write: “You two are quite something—always generating optimism and good spirits and we bask in your radiance.”

March 12

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Orpheum Theatre, 8 p.m.

The VSO offers a sampler of music from, and about, Spain, including classics like Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnole and Chabrier’s Espana. Pride of place goes to Rodrigo’s ultra-evocative Concierto de Aranjuez; guitarist Daniel Bolshoy does the honours.

March 12

Voices, Sax & Syn

St. Andrew’s United Church, North Vancouver, 8 p.m.

The North Shore’s fine Laudate Singers offers an intriguing old/new program: part Renaissance classics and part choral innovations with new works, plus the spicy addition of synths and saxes to all those voices.

March 12

Hugh Masekela

Chan Centre, 8 p.m.

Grammy-nominated South African trumpeter and singer-songwriter tours in support of latest album Phola. Last year, Masekela and his son Salema were featured in a 10-part documentary, Umlando—Through My Father’s Eyes, which aired during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

March 13

Jodi Picoult

St. Andrew’s–Wesley Church, 7:30 p.m.

The bestselling author had been working on her new, pro-gay-rights novel Sing You Home for some time, when her 19-year-old son came out to Picoult and her husband. Another timely event: Her 18th novel hit stores just after the Obama administration decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars recognition of same-sex marriages.

March 13

Avan Yu

Vancouver Academy of Music, 7:30 p.m.

Since kicking off the Vancouver Symphony’s season last fall, pianist Avan Yu has been studying in Berlin. He returns to present a benefit recital for the venerable Vancouver Women’s Musical Society that includes Chopin’s B minor Sonata as well as shorter works by Liszt and Debussy.

March 14

Bach Choir and Vancouver Composers

Vancouver Public Library, 7 p.m.

Leslie Dala’s first season with the Vancouver Bach Choir really heats up in the next few weeks. A new addition to the performance roster is a free evening exploring choral music by local composers Iman Habibi and Jordan Nobles.

March 14

Ronnie Burkett

The Cultch, 8 p.m.

Canada’s puppet king, lauded around the world for his amazing way with the woodenheads, offers a reading of his newest work, Penny Plain, and the rare treat of a Q&A session with audience members. Proceeds benefit the Cultch.

March 15

Prazak Quartet

Vancouver Playhouse, 8 p.m.

Friends of Chamber Music welcomes the popular Prazak Quartet in music by Beethoven and by Smetana. But you can bet the sentimental favourite of their program will be Dvorak’s Piano Quintet with the irrepressible Menachem Pressler, the long-time pianist of the now disbanded Beaux Arts Trio.

March 16

One Night Stand: R. Murray Schafer

Heritage Hall, 8 p.m.

R. Murray Schafer returns to Vancouver for a number of events this month. Music on Main presents a Schafer sampler including works from many phases of his long (and occasionally controversial) career, including the premiere of a new work for flute, viola and harp performed by Trio Verlaine.

March 16

Nelly

PNE Forum, 7 p.m.

The St. Louis rapper who gave us the blockbuster single Hot In Here (“so take off all your clothes”) tours in support of latest album 5.0. The album’s title is said to have been inspired by Nelly’s 2011 Ford Mustang, which is featured on the album cover. Now that’s true love. With guests Soul Recordz and Cali Swag Live.

March 17

The Philanderer

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, 8 p.m.; to April 17

This is the Arts Club Theatre’s 500th production! Rachel Ditor directs the George Bernard Shaw comedy about a man who simply can’t commit. Is there any other kind?

March 17

Destroyer

Commodore Ballroom 9:30 p.m.

Vancouver’s Dan Bejar recently made his network TV debut appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It was about time. His art-rock project Destroyer’s latest album Kaputt is the band’s ninth effort, one that blends 80s jazz-pop and soft-rock textures with Bejar’s signature brand of weird poetry. And it’s pretty amazing.

Ahead

Cavalia PHOTOMarch 22-April 10White Big TopIn this horse show/Cirque du Soleil combo, the horses grab the limelight, but humans astonish as well. The horses balance, canter, dance, stand on their hind legs and nuzzle each other. Acrobats ride right-side up, upside down and under them; they do flips and pommel-horse moves at thundering full speed under the largest big top tent in the world.

Almost Done!

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